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| World of: Fire | |
| by Harry Leonard
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Before Lael even said, "Hello," the woman said, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Hello."
"How can you even think of going out like that?"
Lael looked down at herself and back up at the woman. "I didn't go out like this."
"But you're naked now." The woman had her hands on her hips, her elbows pointing sharply away from her body.
"Yes," said Lael.
"How could you think of walking around naked?"
"I didn't."
The woman crossed her arms over her chest. "It gives men the wrong impression of women, besides being indecent. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Lael had been waiting for a chance to say, "The sun is sinking, the world is going to end, and everyone...almost everyone is going to die." So she did.
"That's it?" The woman began tapping her foot.
"Yes."
"But why take your clothes off? Did you strip for someone while you did it? You probably did, didn't you? Why? Why go naked? Well, come on. Explain yourself."
"In order to tell people about the world's end. I needed..."
"To give men erections?"
"Thank you, but no. I..."
"To degrade yourself in front of everyone?"
"No. One, I haven't. Two, there's no one else around. Three, this isn't the point."
"Perhaps you'd like to share the point with me, then."
Lael leaned forward, her face three inches from the woman's. "None of this matters because the world is ending and we're all going to die, more or less. The sun, that big thing in the sky, is sinking. I'm trying to warn people and the best way to get their attention is walk around naked. So I am. Nod your head if you understand."
The woman shook her head and thus avoided impacting Lael only inches away. Lael leaned back.
"You poor, confused woman," said the woman.
Lael said, "I don't have time to convince you or argue with you about sex discrimination or whatever. If you could just tell people what I said, I'd appreciate it. Now, I've got places to go and people to talk to. Good day."
Lael turned and walked back into Park North.
She had now informed four people of their impending fates, though technically only three. One was in the hospital and wouldn't be passing the word on, most likely. The next just ignored her. And the last, well, she was more interested in arguing. Lael was quickly getting nowhere.
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| ©1997, 2000 Harry Leonard | |
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